Cliff Diving Death Into Fishkill Creek In Beacon - Young Man From Newburgh Did Not Resurface
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Photos from Google Maps; News12 Instagram; News12 Video Screenshot.
On the evening of Thursday, June 25th, 2026, Vincent Javinett, age 34, dove into the Fishkill Creek at the dam location of 508 Fishkill Avenue at the cliffs, and did not resurface. At 7:34pm, the Beacon Police, Fire and EMS were dispatched to respond to a call about an individual who cliff dove into the Fishkill Creek and had not resurfaced, Beacon Chief Figlia said a day after the incident in a press release published at 10:32am.
Reporting for News12, Ben Andy said that people living in the Groveville community behind the dam said they see kids jumping from the cliffs all of the time, “one after the the other, off the cliff into the water.”
First responders arrived within minutes, but assessed that given the amount of time Vincent had been under the water, “there was no chance of survival,” Chief Figlia said. Regardless, Beacon Fire entered the water to recover the victim, but they could not locate him. A dive team was called in from New York State Police, where he was then recovered from the water.
“The dive team found him. They found his body here,” Ben referred to a crevice between rocks. “They pulled him up in a stretcher, where many people could see what was going on,” Ben reported.
Chief Figlia confirmed that the jump was a tragic accident. “Beacon Police conducted an investigation and recovered video evidence from the scene, which confirmed, beyond a doubt, that the incident was a tragic accident.”
“It’s a super dangerous situation. People knew about it already, and sadly, they are not surprised this happened,” Ben reported.
“[Cliff diving at the Fishkill Creek] is a wheel chair at best, suicide at worst.”
Chief Figlia continued: “Our thoughts and sympathies go out to Mr. Javinett and his family and loved ones.
People in the Comments of the Beacon Police’s Press Release acknowledged that cliff diving at this location has been going on for years. Said Sara Lynn: “I can’t believe after all these years, people are still doing this. These well known ‘spots’ should be guarded and tragic events such as this can be avoided. I’m sorry for this person’s family and friends, as well as those who bared witness.”
“Close this cliff.”
Kelley Durkin said (ALBB has edited for FB typos): “I am a lifetime diver + USA & World Team level coach. In 1970's, all the local divers would cliff dive off Castle Rock in S. Salem at 55 ft. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't do it. When you are young, you function off ‘thrill, dare & invincibility.’ I saw an experienced diver and coach do a normal front dive fine, and break his neck near death. Another diver got knocked out and was under dark water until a friend ‘felt him’ and saved him at the last minute.
“The Olympic 10M Platform is 33 ' and a diver is moving 40+- MPH. I've seen experienced divers miss a dive and go to the hospital. So that's only 33'. My Castle Rock is 55'and this cliff here is some say 80'. You are likely moving 60+ MPH! After a life of high level diving and coaching, I will not let a trained diver of mine on 10M Platform at 33' for ‘years’ after extensive training. Today, I would never let myself or anyone I knew go off the 55' and 80' should be closed off to everyone.
“various objects are present at the creek bottom - submerged logs & stumps, bicycles, shopping carts, pipes, construction debris, etc. Storms and high water flows constantly change the creek bottom.”
“Further, just about everyone on these cliffs are local dare non-divers with zero training. This is a wheel chair at best, suicide at worst. And I have not even got into how the cliff rock shapes out under water, how deep the water is, what's down there, that current you talk about, etc. Close this cliff - I don't care how ‘dare’ you are.”
A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Beacon Councilperson Sergei Krasikov, who works closely with the Fishkill Creek, for comment about what he knows about the depth and condition of the creek there. He responded: “I do not know the depth or the condition of the creek bottom in the area. From general experience and observations at various sites during kayaking, clean ups, water quality sampling etc., various objects are present at the creek bottom - submerged logs & stumps, bicycles, shopping carts, pipes, construction debris, etc. Storms and high water flows constantly change the creek bottom. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous, but especially so in creeks with constantly changing conditions and the water you cannot see through. My heart goes to the family and friends of the man who has died so tragically.
